- Phalaropus lobatus
Identification
18-19 cm (7-7½ in)
- Dark grey to black bill
- Blue-grey legs
- Lobed feet
- Needle-like bill
Winter Grey above with wing bar and most of head and underparts white.
Summer Head grey-brown with white chin and face patch. Orange patch on side of neck and throat.
Male duller than female
Juvenile Similar to winter adult but browner upperparts. Buff neck and breast.
In flight bold white wing bar, reminiscent of Sanderling, and long white rump coverts.
Moult information[5]
Distribution
Breeds in arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. Iceland and very locally in northern and western islands of Scotland and NW Ireland.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Open waters and marshy areas.
Behaviour
A rather confiding bird, showing little fear of humans.
Breeding
The females pursue males, compete for nesting territory, and will defend their nests and chosen mates. Once the females lay their eggs, they begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and look after the young. 3-7 eggs are laid in a ground nest near a marshy area. The young mainly feed themselves and are able to fly within 20 days of birth.
Diet
Diet includes small insects or crustaceans.
Flight
Flight outline 'tubby'. Swims with tail held up. 'Spins' on water.
Vocalisation
Call: "twit" and "tirric, tirric". A funny grunting noise prior to flight.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Discussion thread on the Moulting of Red-necked Phalopes
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Red-necked Phalarope. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-necked_Phalarope
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
